The Origin, Evolution and History of Leprosy Through a Palaeopathological Lens

Leprosy has a long history as seen through historical evidence, and evidence in skeletons from archaeological sites that is several thousand years old. This section highlights the methods used to identify leprosy, reveals the bone changes of leprosy affecting the facial, hand and foot bones that are recognized by palaeopathologists, focuses on the global evidence for leprosy according to time and place, and shows how ancient DNA analysis of M. leprae is providing new insights on its origin, evolution and history.